How to Cook Wild Rice (2024)

We’re Minnesota gals AKA pros at cooking wild rice. We love adding it to soups, casseroles, and bowls because it’s nutty and has a bite to it. In this post, we’ll teach you how to make wild rice on the stove and in the Instant Pot. Both ways are easy and will have you using wild rice on a regular basis.

It is fun to use wild rice as a topping or a fun addition to meals you already know how to make. We love adding wild rice to a butternut squash soup or mixed into one of our delicious salad recipes.

If you’re from the midwest (hi, it’s me!) you probably grew up with wild rice as a staple in your kitchen. Did you know that most wild rice is grown and harvested from the Great Lakes region of North America (and much of it within the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin!) and Canada. Crazy, right? (MN DNR) If you can’t tell, we’re passionate about this grain and claim it as a “food Minnesota is known for.”

Although wild rice takes longer to cook than white rice, it’s totally worth it for the flavor and texture. It’s just the best when it “pops” and “curls.” That’s how we were taught it’s done cooking!

Oh, and one thing to note about cooking wild rice – the method is similar to pasta where you boil the grain in water and then strain the excess liquid!

What You Need to Make Wild Rice

Like other rice recipes, all you really need is wild rice and water. If you’re looking to add more flavor, you can swap the water for broth. You’ll also need to make sure you have a pot (or Instant Pot) and a strainer if you’re cooking it on the stove.

What is the water-TO-wild rice ratio for cooking wild rice?

The ratio for water:rice all depends on HOW you cook your wild rice. The ratios for our wild rice recipes are below!

• Stove-top 1 cup wild rice to 4 cups water
• Instant Pot 1 cup wild rice to 1.5 cups water

How long does it take to cook wild rice?

It takes about 30-45 minutes for wild rice to cook depending on how you decide to prepare your wild rice.

Do you have to soak wild rice before cooking?

You do not have to soak wild rice before cooking it! We wanted there to be as few steps to cooking wild rice as possible. That being said, people soak their wild rice to reduce the cooking time, so if you have the time feel free to soak the wild rice. The finished texture will remain the same.

Our recipes DO NOT include soaking the wild rice.

Is wild rice supposed to be crunchy?

Wild rice is supposed to have a bite to its texture! When wild rice is done cooking, it will split or pop.You will know if this happens if your wild rice splits down the middle and turns a beige or white color.

Your wild rice should have a bite, meaning it shouldn’t hurt your teeth when you bite into it but it should still have a tender texture.

How is wild rice different than other rice?

Wild rice is different than other rice in that it is an outer sheath (or shell) on the outside and a soft grain on the inside. Other rice species like white rice or brown rice do not have that outer shell.

When we explain HOW to cook wild rice compared to other types of rice, I like to say we cook wild rice like it’s pasta! We boil it and strain it rather than solely depend on absorption!

How do you know when wild rice is done?

Your wild rice is done when it has cracked and revealed it’s inner soft grain! It should be chewy, but not mushy!

Can I freeze cooked wild rice?

Yes, you can freeze cooked wild rice! Let the wild rice cool completely before placing it in an airtight plastic bag or stasher bag. Remove the air from the bag and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 months!

When you’re ready to use the rice, let it thaw out and use it in your favorite recipes!

Directions for Cooking Wild Rice on the Stove

Preparing wild rice on the stove top is probably the most common way to prepare wild rice! Prepare wild rice on the stove top like you would pasta! It is a hard grain, so it will take longer to cook, like pasta.

1. Place your 1 cup of wild rice and 4 cups of water into a pot.
2. Bring to a boil and then cover.
3. Let simmer for around 45 minutes or until has popped.
4. Strain any excess water and enjoy.

Directions for Cooking Wild Rice in the Instant Pot

We LOVE cooking wild rice in the Instant Pot. It is a set-it-and-forget-it situation! We are all about it! The beautiful part of the Instant Pot wild rice is that there is only one step involved.

1. Add 1 cup of wild rice and 1.5 cups of water into your Instant Pot.
2. Close and seal your Instant Pot.
3. Cook on high pressure for 35 minutes.
4. Quick release and remove the lid. Enjoy!

A Few Tips

Here are some tips and takeaways for preparing wild rice in the Instant Pot:

• Place wild rice and liquid into the Instant Pot itself. No need for any additional bowls or trivets.
• You don’t need a natural release when you cook wild rice in the Instant Pot. 35 minutes on high pressure is enough time for the rice to cook and absorb the water.
• If you release the pressure from the Instant Pot and there is still a little bit of water in the bottom of the Instant Pot, let the wild rice sit for an additional 10-15 minutes to absorb the rest of the liquid.

Our Favorite Ways to Use Wild Rice

The beautiful thing about wild rice is that it is so versatile! There are so many ways to incorporate wild rice into your favorite dishes. Wild rice can be the all-star in your dish in a casserole or soup. It can also make a great accompaniment to soups and salads as side dishes.

• Chicken Wild Rice Soup
• Cornbread Dressing with Wild Rice
• Creamy Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup
• Roasted Butternut Squash and Kale Salad (replace the farro with wild rice!)
• Lazy Girl Turkey Chili (add in about 1/4 cup of cooked wild rice to each serving!)
• 30 Minute Spicy Butternut Squash Soup
• Chicken Meal Prep Recipes (use it as the grain in one of these meal prep recipes!)